Donald W. Hasenohrl

Donald William "Donnie" Hasenohrl (born November 25, 1935) is a retired American politician and union steelworker. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for 26 years, representing his hometown, Marshfield, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas.

Donald W. Hasenohrl
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office January 7, 1985 – January 1, 2001
Preceded by	John L. Merkt
Succeeded by	MaryAnn Lippert
Constituency	70th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded by	Donald K. Stitt
Succeeded by	Susan Bowers Vergeront
Constituency	60th district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983
Preceded by	John Oestreicher
Succeeded by	John L. Merkt
Constituency	70th district
Personal details
Born	Donald William Hasenohrl November 25, 1935 Marshfield, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Kathleen J. Stashek ​ (m. 1961)​
Children	3
Residence	Pittsville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Profession	politician

Early life and career

Hasenohrl was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and graduated from Marshfield High School.[1] Hasenohrl worked as a farmer in his youth and was employed by the Marshfield Fire Department as a firefighter in 1960 and 1961. He went on to work as a steel fabricator at the Felker Brothers Manufacturing Company in Marshfield until his election to the Assembly; he was a member of the local Boilermakers union and a delegate to the Marshfield Central Labor Council.[2]

Political career

As a young man, Hasenohrl became involved with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and founded the Marshfield Young Democrats. He served as a field staffer for William Proxmire during his successful United States Senate campaigns in 1957 and 1958.[3]

He made his first attempt at elected office in 1962, running for Wood County register of deeds against incumbent Robert J. Ryan, but Hasenohrl fell far short of his Republican opponent in the November general election.[4] Nevertheless, a month later, in December 1962, he was elected chairman of the Wood County Democratic Party for 1963.[3] He was subequently reelected to another year as chairman in January 1964.[5] He ran again for county office in 1964, running for county clerk; he was again defeated by the Republican incumbent.[6][7]

After 1964, Hasenohrl stepped back from his attempts to seek office, but remained invested in local affairs and state politics. He became more involved with local labor organizations and was appointed to the Marshfield City Plan Commission. He and his wife continued to campaign in support of Democrats in the state, such as then-assemblymember Dave Obey and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson.[2]

In 1974, a decade after his last election, he once again sought higher office. He announced a run for Wisconsin State Assembly in the 70th assembly district seat, which was being vacated by the incumbent John Oestreicher.[2] At the time, the district comprised eastern Clark County, southern Marathon County, northeast Portage County, and northern Wood County.[2] Several Democrats expressed interest in running for the now-open seat, but ultimately Hasenohrl faced only two opponents in the Democratic primary—Arlen K. Wanta, town chairman of Rudolph, Wisconsin,[8] and Thomas F. Stockheimer, a supporter of the American Party who believed he'd have a better chance as a Democrat.[9] Hasenohrl prevailed in the September primary with 57% of the vote.[10] The November general election in the 70th assembly district produced the closest outcome in the state; Hasenohrl won the seat by a mere 42 votes.[10][1]

Hasenohrl won reelection in 1976 by a wide margin, helped by a national Democratic wave against the Nixon-Ford years,[11] but faced another difficult contest in 1978, winning by just 581 votes. Following 1978, Hasenohrl won comfortable reelection victories in 1980, 1982, 1984, and 1990, and was unopposed in 1986, 1988, and 1992.

Following close reelection contests in 1994 and 1998, Hasenohrl announced he would not seek a 14th term in 2000.[12]

Hasenohrl served for several years on the committees on highways and transportation, serving as chairman of the transportation committee from 1983 through 1993; he also served for several sessions on the committees on rural development, rural affairs, and forestry.[13] Hasenohrl enthusiastically supported his former legislative aide, Julie Lassa, when she ran for State Assembly in the neighboring 71st assembly district in 1998, and later when she ran for Wisconsin State Senate.[14]

Personal life and family

Donald Hasenohrl married Kathleen J. Stashek on May 13, 1961, in Wisconsin Rapids.[15] His wife was a registered nurse and a teacher at Mid-State Technical College.[2] They had three children, all of whom are now grown, and still reside in Pittsville, Wisconsin, just south of Marshfield.

Hasenohrl has been a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and was member and director of the Wisconsin State Fair Association.[13]

Electoral history

Wood County Register of Deeds (1962)

Wood County Register of Deeds Election, 1962[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 6, 1962
	Republican	Robert J. Ryan (incumbent)	11,929	66.40%
	Democratic	Donald W. Hasenohrl	6,037	33.60%
Plurality			5,892	32.80%
Total votes			17,966	100.0%
	Republican hold

Wood County Clerk (1964)

Wood County Clerk Election, 1964[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 3, 1964
	Republican	Adrian G. Elvod (incumbent)	12,609	56.09%
	Democratic	Donald W. Hasenohrl	9,869	43.91%
Plurality			2,740	12.19%
Total votes			22,478	100.0%
	Republican hold

Wisconsin Assembly (1974–1998)

Year	Election	Date	Elected				Defeated				Total	Plurality
1974[10]	Primary	September 10	Donald W. Hasenohrl	Democratic	1,352	57.58%	Arlen K. Wanta	Dem.	630	26.83%	2,348	722
							Thomas F. Stockheimer	Dem.	366	15.59%
	General	November 5	Donald W. Hasenohrl	Democratic	5,962	50.18%	James S. Vedder	Rep.	5,920	49.82%	11,882	42
1976[11]	General	November 2	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	12,540	63.64%	Patricia A. Keith	Rep.	7,166	36.36%	19,706	5,374
1978[16]	General	November 7	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	7,675	51.97%	David L. Luepke	Rep.	7,094	48.03%	14,769	581
1980[17]	General	November 4	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	12,440	55.42%	David L. Luepke	Rep.	9,743	43.41%	22,446	2,697
							John S. Anderson	Lib.	263	1.17%
1982[18]	General	November 2	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	11,624	77.18%	Gary T. Hannemann	Rep.	3,436	22.82%	15,060	8,188
1984[19]	General	November 6	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	13,136	64.72%	Kenneth N. Machtan	Rep.	7,161	35.28%	20,297	5,975
1986[20]	General	November 4	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	10,953	100.00%	Scattering				10,953	100.00%
1988[21]	General	November 8	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	15,535	100.00%	Scattering				15,535	100.00%
1990[22]	General	November 6	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	8,805	69.70%	Jack Kelly	Rep.	3,828	30.30%	12,633	4,977
1992[23]	General	November 3	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	16,517	100.00%	Scattering				16,517	100.00%
1994[24]	General	November 8	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	8,193	51.01%	Donna Rozar	Rep.	7,526	46.86%	16,060	667
							Wayne Wiedeman	Tax.	341	2.12%
1996[25]	General	November 5	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	12,957	60.96%	Donna Rozar	Rep.	8,298	39.04%	21,255	4,659
1998[26]	General	November 3	Donald W. Hasenohrl (inc.)	Democratic	8,906	51.50%	MaryAnn Lippert	Rep.	8,386	48.50%	17,292	520

References

1. "Hasenohrl, Donald W. 1935". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
2. "Hasenohrl Assembly candidate". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Pittsville, Wisconsin. May 16, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Hasenohrl New Demo Chairman". Marshfield News-Herald. December 18, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "County Voters Favor Laird, Heizen, Gee". Marshfield News-Herald. November 7, 1962. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "County Dems Elect Hasenohrl". Marshfield News-Herald. January 20, 1964. p. 3. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Johnson Has Big Edge In Wood County". Stevens Point Journal. November 4, 1964. p. 2. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Republicans Win County Offices". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. November 4, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Rudolph chairman in Assembly race". Stevens Point Journal. June 17, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Candidates Discuss the Issues". Marshfield News-Herald. August 15, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1975). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 809, 830. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
11. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1977). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1977 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 894, 916. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
12. Milfred, Scott (June 17, 2000). "Another Republican steps down from state Assembly". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1999). "Biographies" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 69. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
14. "Hasenohrl wants Lassa for 24th District". Marshfield News-Herald. January 28, 2003. p. 6. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Miss Kathleen Stashek Wed Saturday to Donald Hasenohrl". Marshfield News-Herald. May 16, 1961. p. 6. Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
16. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1979). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 925. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
17. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1981). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1981-1982 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 916. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
18. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 911. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
19. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1985). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 926. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
20. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1987). "Elections" (PDF). In Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S. (eds.). The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
21. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1989). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 927. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
22. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1991). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 916. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
23. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1993). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 923. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
24. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1995). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 923. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
25. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1997). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 905. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
26. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1999). "Elections" (PDF). In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 883. Retrieved December 28, 2020.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart